Museum controversy continues to dominate B.C. politics
Is it a pathway to reconciliation or a vanity project in the premier's backyard?
That's the conversation dominating B.C.'s capital, days after the NDP government announced a controversial upgrade to the Royal B.C. Museum. Now, the government is on the defensive over what the Liberals say will be the most expensive museum project in Canadian history.
For a third day, Opposition leader Kevin Falcon hammered John Horgan's government for a Royal B.C. Museum project that will take eight years and cost taxpayers $789 million.
"What's mammoth is the stupidity of the NDP government spending a billion dollars on a new vanity museum that nobody asked for or wants," said Falcon during question period Wednesday.
In response, Horgan outlined all the capital spending happening around the province.
"We're building a hospital in Dawson Creek. We're building a hospital in Fort St. James. We're building a hospital in Terrace. We're building a hospital in Williams Lake. We're building a hospital in Cowichan Valley," Horgan said.
A business case for the museum project has not been made public, prompting questions about the cost. Melanie Mark, the provincial Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport said two floors are underwater, the building is seismically unsafe and it's a complex problem.
"There are over six hectares of land across the street, we are talking about six buildings, we're talking about seven million artifacts and objects," Mark added.
CTV News looked at a variety of museum expansions and builds across Canada. While a direct comparison isn't available at this point, it shows that major museum undertakings can reach the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Qaumajuq expansion – which hosts Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery – is a 40,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2021 at a cost of $65 million.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights – also in Winnipeg – was finished in 2014 with a pricetag of $351 million. Funding came from three levels of government and private donations.
The Royal Ontario Museum, which was a major revamp in downtown Toronto, came in at $270 million.
The funding for the Royal B.C. Museum will come from the provincial capital budget, which is where roads, hospitals and schools are funded. Wednesday, the Opposition asked what else could've been built with the money earmarked for the museum.
"There are hospitals in the province that need to be seismically upgraded, there are dozens of schools ... that require seismic upgrades," said Opposition house leader Todd Stone.
Jennifer Whiteside, the Education Minister, pointed out the government is spending unprecedented amounts to build and expand schools.
"In this next three-year plan, we'll be spending nearly $800 million to seismically upgrade schools, and that's in the context of a $2.65-billion capital plan," she told reporters.
An update from the province shows that, as of May 2022, more than 200 schools are earthquake-proof, with another 44 in progress and 250 remaining.
Asked whether most of the remaining schools will be upgraded by 2030, which is when the museum will be complete, Whiteside replied she didn't have that information.
"Again, that's work that we do in the capital planning process with the districts, I can't give you a number on that today," she added.
In the coming days, the Liberals are expected to keep up the heat about what could be the most expensive museum in B.C. history, and what is already the most debated one.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.